Bank of Kirksville wins bidding war for Barber's property

The Bank of Kirksville won a bidding war over Dr. Arnold Stephen Barber's properties at an estate sale Thursday, paying more than a half-million dollars and nearly $200,000 over its initial bid.

Barber, who is currently appealing his two felony convictions for witness tampering in the Tom Oswald sex abuse case, was in default on his payments for multiple tracts of land.

The property had an appraised value of $631,116 and the Bank of Kirksville won the bidding at $520,000.

Norman Belitz, of the Bank of Kirksville, declined to comment citing bank policy.

Unlike the recent auction of the Wi-Fi Sensors building, the gathered crowd outside the Adair County Courthouse featured more than just onlookers. After the bank submitted an initial bid of $325,500, Dr. James Gardner, of Kirksville, attempted to outbid the local financial institution.

The bank and Gardner traded offers until the bank entered a bid of $520,000, which Gardner did not challenge.

Asked afterward, Gardner said he thought the property would have been a "nice place to live."